A benefit cheat evaded justice for seven years by returning home to the Czech Republic.

Jaroslav Gazi, 48, was detained at an airport on Sunday, held in custody and has now been jailed at Nottingham Crown Court.

He had failed to attend court in August 2010, after pleading guilty to wrongly claiming taxpayers' money to help him care for children during the previous year.

When he faced a judge at the crown court today (Friday, August 18), Gazi also admitted breaching the terms of his bail which was granted on July 26, 2010. He got a month's prison for that and two weeks for the benefit fraud .

Recorder Jason Macadam told him: "I am quite sure you came to see your family or for some other such reason.

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"The courts are plagued with people who don't attend and who cause chaos and unhappiness to witnesses, those who represent them and those who prosecute."

Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, said Gazi applied for a crisis loan in 2009, saying he was carer for dependent children and had accommodation problems. He was handed £220. When a second application was made, civil servants paid him £320.

"A third application was not successful. It was checked against previous applications.

(Image: PA Images)

"The third application said that he had two children whereas the previous ones said he had three or four. It was pretty clear something untoward was going on," said Mr Dee. Gazi was questioned and pleaded guilty to fraud when he appeared in court.

At that time, the case had been adjourned but he had left the country by the time he was due to be sentenced.

Christopher Canning, mitigating, said Gazi had admitted the fraud offences and so it was not a case where witnesses would be "inconvenienced".